DD-Translations, German language

DD-Translations

highly professional

German Language *)

(see also <Wikipedia>)

Please speak German with me! We could understand each other better in plain German!

The German language belongs to the Teutonic group of languages. It developed during the time of the migration of the people.

After the time of the migration of the people in the 7th Century numerous dialects (Low German, Middle German and Upper German) arose due to the sound shift working its way from the South to the North. The Middle German and Upper German dialects constitute what is called High German.

The definite extension of the High German standard German took place by Luther's translation of the bible and the invention of printing.

German is spoken by approx. 145 million people in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Belgium and Switzerland, German is not limited to the German speaking countries. German is also spoken in some states of Middle and Eastern Europe and by German groups living in Europe and overseas and there are German speaking minorities in many states. It is estimated that there are approx. 25 million actively German speaking people worldwide as well as approx. 20 million pupils, students, teachers and lecturers in foreign countries who are learning or teaching German. Approx. 50 million people speak German as a second or educational language. What pleases very much is the fact that German is spreading over foreign countries through workers or students who originally stayed in Germany and returned later to their home country and wish to maintain what they once learnt.

At present, German is becoming more and more popular as a foreign language. Nowadays, it ranges at the second place in Europe after English. In the EC countries most of the learners of German can be found in France, the Netherlands and Italy and in the Eastern countries there are most of all Poland, Czechia and Hungary who make a lot of efforts for the German language. Furthermore, the Germans are the biggest group of native speakers within the EC. Outside the black-red-golden borders approx. 16 and 17 millions of people learn the German language.

Thus, it seems that the German language is more or less at safety. On the other hand, scientists publish very often in English only and many enterprises and multinational companies introduce English as their official language within their firm.

As a translator I do my very best to transfer foreign texts into German (according to the "New German Spelling") in such a way as not to make it noticeable that the original text had been translated.

I am quite aware that a language is living and is permanently and consequently changing and especially the German of our time is undergoing tremendous changes, at present. However,unfortunately, these changes are not always advantageous.

Therefore, I try to employ real German, a German with as little of foreign or fashionable components as possible. This comprises:

Anglicisms which most of the time are completely unnecessary, since very often they can be expressed much more better in German. In this connection, I refer to the Volks-Wörterbuch "Engleutsch", which can be ordered from www.deutsche-sprachwelt.de; they also publish the newspaper "Deutsche Sprachwelt".

Unfortunately, the present situation is already rather serious and it seems that in order to understand German you have to learn English first.

Believe it or not! Sad, but true: lately the Evening Schools for Adults are offering courses for a better understanding of anglicisms.

Here is just one example:

"Blockbuster and Global Player. English is "in". We drink Smoothies for our Wellness, buy a Notebook and meet at the Service-Point. The media, communication, advertising and manufacturing industries love to use anglicisms for everything they wish to tell us and try to present themselves as being very international. Unfortunately, they do not provide us with suitable translations and the basic school English is very often not sufficient in order to understand what the real meanings are. The time has come to put an end to this and in our workshop we will explain and help you discover what is behind the most important terms. Thus you will get along better and will be able to follow any conversations. There is also a special chapter about Denglish and the new creations of words that are not, but seem to be and sound English."

A translator colleague, Mrs. Dr. Loewy, http://business.fullerton.edu/BusWriting/FacultyInfo/LoewDana/ from the United States has expressed this situation very aptly as follows:

"As a professional translator living in the USA, I'm annoyed when I see to which degree German is becoming bastardized and pidginized--voluntarily so. To me it signifies abject submissiveness and a deep insecurity in the German psyche. The German people must come to terms with their uneasy past and forge a positive identity. Then their language too will reflect a healthy patriotism (as opposed to nationalistic tendencies or jingoism). Most of the supposedly "trendy" Americanisms or pseudo-English words and phrases are not even used correctly!"

It is a very regrettable and a really annoying fact that even such a leading institution like the Publishing House DUDEN which claims to stand for a good German language has meanwhile included numerous anglicisms in its latest edition of the renowned DUDEN Reference Book.

fashionable inventions of words ("latest German"; sometimes also called "stupid German") idle word shells, embellishing words etc., which are also unnecessary and most of the time even wrong.

(Note of the translator: this is also happening in the English language; the emptiest buzz-words have slipped into the language in recent years, such as "maximize", "prioritize", "outsource", "liaison", "interface", "issue" etc.) Also in common language the use of "sort of..." "kind of..." is completely unnecessary.

Every day you can hear and read examples of such sins against the language.

The ones who are responsible for these now customary neologisms (especially the English ones) are the media as well as companies, administrative bodies, municipalities and communities who think that they cannot do without them and maybe get more importance thereof. See in this connection the "Database of Advertising" containing in most of the cases slogans in English.

German is a language full of expressiveness with an immense stock of apt words and idiomatic expressions.

Do assist that our good German language is not disfigured. Tell your friends and acquaintances when they are using unnecessary English or fashionable words. Send letters (or e-mails) to the editors of TV or radio programs, newspapers or just use the telephone and give them a ring.

It is still not yet too late! Many unions and associations are working at cultivating the German language:

Aktion lebendiges Deutsch

Further links:

<Daf-Querverweise> <Deutsche Bibliothek> <Deutsche Gedichte> <Deutsche Internet Übungen> <Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst> <Deutscher Bildungsserver> <Deutschlandstiftung Integration> <Die Deutschen Klassiker> <DeutschMobil in Frankreich> <Deutsch-Österreichisches Wörterbuch> <DUDEN online>

<Österreichisches Deutsch> <Orthographie + Schreibtechnik für Kinder>

In case that any link does not work, your relevant information is appreciated. I also would be pleased of receiving any further hints and proposals.

*) The information on this site has been compiled to the best of knowledge and belief from different sources, such as reference books, encyclopedias, newspapers, Internet etc..